You've Got Questions... Premium vs. Standard Batteries:
What's the difference and which should I use?		 ... We've Got Answers!

RadioShack offers two types of alkaline batteries -- regular RadioShack Enercell batteries and RadioShack Enercell Plus batteries. The difference between the two is that the regular RadioShack Enercell batteries are for devices with a low to moderate current drain, and the RadioShack Enercell Plus batteries are specifically for for devices with a high current drain.

RadioShack Enercell Plus batteries have a revolutionary new formula that provides more uptime, extended use and longer playing time in high-drain devices like digital cameras, pocket PC's, MP3 players, handheld games, radio-control toys, walkie-talkies and more. In fact, when used in high-drain devices, these batteries can provide up to 38% more performance than the our standard alkaline, RadioShack Enercell.

However, while the new formula provides excellent performance for high-drain devices, their performance in low to moderate drain devices is equivalent to our standard alkalines, RadioShack Enercells. Basically, the Enercell Plus line of batteries works best when you work (or play) hard. Because of this, for low- to moderate-drain devices, we recommend that you use the standard RadioShack Enercells.

In order to choose the right battery, there are three ways to determine whether your device has a high current drain or a low to moderate current drain: by normal current drain rating, by regular alkaline battery life, or by device type. The point to remember is that the higher the drain rate, the better the Enercell Plus batteries will work.

  1. If you have the normal current drain for your product, then you can make a general determination by using 600 mA as the low end of high drain devices.  Using this method, devices which draw less than 600 mA can be generally considered to be low- to moderate-drain and standard RadioShack Enercells should be used. Devices which draw 600 mA or more can be generally considered to be high-drain devices and RadioShack Enercell Plus batteries should be used.  Please note, 600 mA is not an exact number; there is not a precise current drain rating available for this purpose.
  2. If your device has a variable current drain or the current drain is not available, then you can also determine if your device is high-drain, medium-drain or low-drain by how long regular alkalines last in the device. Based on how long the battery life is for regular alkalines, you can generally estimate the drain rate for that level of use. As above, how the device is used can change the drain rate for some devices. The chart below shows the general guidelines. Start with the first column, read down to the best description of how long the regular alkaline batteries last, then read across for a probable estimate of the device type. Please note, this is only an estimate; it can not be taken for a hard and fast rule.
    3. If regular alkaline battery life... then the device is probably...
    is measured in minutes or hours... a high-drain device.
    is measured in days... a medium-drain device.
    is measured in months or longer... a low-drain device.
  3. If you do not have either the actual drain rate or the normal battery life for standard alkalines, you can compare your device to the lists below. These two lists provide only a broad guideline for which battery you should use. The list is not intended to be all-inclusive; if an particular item is not on the list, check with the manufacturer to determine the current drain. For two-way radios, be aware that maximum current drain occurs when transmitting; the more you're transmitting, the better the Enercell Plus batteries will perform for you!

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